Manchester United sources have rejected claims made by Saudi sports supremo Turki Alalshikh that the club is in advanced negotiations to be sold to a new investor.
Alalshikh, who boasts over 7.2 million followers on X, posted that he had heard “the best news” about United being close to sealing a takeover deal. However, multiple sources close to Old Trafford insist the claim is untrue, leaving fans with more questions than answers.
With United missing out on European football this season, discussions are ongoing about staging a mid-season friendly to generate revenue and keep fans engaged. Head coach Ruben Amorim confirmed:
“We knew that when we missed Europe, we had to compensate for a lot of things, including our fans and the budget. So we are putting it all together to do that.”
It remains unclear whether United will face a Saudi Pro-League club or another European heavyweight such as AC Milan.
While no deal is currently active, United’s relationship with Saudi Arabia goes back years:
In 2017, United signed an MoU with the Saudi General Sports Authority (GSA) to share football expertise as part of the country’s Vision 2030 project.
In 2008, United struck a five-year sponsorship with Saudi Telecom, later extended in 2013.
These connections fueled long-standing speculation of a Saudi takeover, but nothing ever materialized.
The Premier League’s Owners’ and Directors’ Test presents a hurdle. With Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) already owning Newcastle United since 2021 and controlling four Saudi Pro-League clubs, it seems unlikely that the league would approve multiple clubs being funded by the same ultimate source.
Last year, Sir Jim Ratcliffe spent £1.3bn to acquire a 28.94% stake in Manchester United, with his Ineos group taking over football operations. This deal suggests a sale to new investors is not on the table right now.
Manchester United may be exploring ways to recover lost revenue without European football, but talks of a Saudi takeover remain speculation at best. For now, fans will need to separate rumours from reality as the Glazers’ ownership saga continues.
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